Much of Bryce Young’s life has been spent preparing him for the very moment he’s in now. So, it’s not much of a surprise that he’s already thriving, even before taking an actual professional snap.
Raleigh, N.C. native, former cornerback and current NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks is one of the latest folks to give Young some early props. During a recent NFL Total Access segment alongside host Mike Yam and correspondent James Palmer, Brooks pinpointed the youngster as the rookie who he believes is garnering the most offseason buzz.
“The No. 1 overall pick has been nothing short of impressive since he’s arrived,” Brooks said. “And it’s not just what he’s able to do with his physical talents. It’s how quickly he’s picked up the offense. It’s the leadership and communication skills that he has already displayed. This is a player that is mature beyond his years.”
That tracks considering general manager Scott Fitterer, back in April, literally said talking to Young is like talking to a 40-year-old man. Fitterer, like Brooks, lauded the 21-year-old for his maturity and “clarity of thought.”
Brooks went on to say that Young’s football career before Carolina, which took him through two of the nation’s most prestigious programs, helped shape him into the player the Panthers took this spring.
“And some of that is due to the experiences that he’s had in his football journey,” he added. “First, playing at a big-time high school in Southern California—Mater Dei—leading them to greatness. Going to Alabama, winning a Heisman Trophy, playing under one of the toughest task masters that you can find in Nick Saban. He is well prepared to handle all the spotlight that comes with being the No. 1 overall pick.”
During his senior campaign at Mater Dei High School, Young passed for 4,528 yards and 58 touchdowns in capturing the nods for the Los Angeles Times Player of the Year, California’s Gatorade Football Player of the Year and the USA TODAY High School Offensive Player of the Year. His eventual Heisman win a few years later would officially give Mater Dei its third such winner—the most of any high school.
And now, Young is looking for a few more wins with the program he’s with in Charlotte.
